Time Out says

Details

What's On

Users say
(27)

5 out of 5 stars

Time Out says

Experience London’s multifarious history, from the flamboyant to the frightful, with a nosey around this eleventh-century fortress

Despite the exhausting crowds and long climbs up stairways, the Tower of London remains one of Britain's finest historical attractions. After all, who wouldn’t want a close-up with the crown of Queen Victoria or the prodigious codpiece of King Henry VIII?

Located beside the equally impressive Tower Bridge in Tower Hill, the buildings of the London landmark span a whopping 900 years of history. Within the bastions and battlements are a series of interactive displays about the lives of British monarchs, and the often excruciatingly painful deaths of traitors. There's easily enough to do here to fill a whole day, and it's worth joining one of the entertaining free tours led by the Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters).

Make the Crown Jewels your first stop, and as early in the day as you can: if you wait until you've pottered around, the queues will be humungous. Another big draw to the tower is the Royal Armoury in the White Tower, with swords, armour, poleaxes, halberds, morning stars (spiky maces) and other gruesome tools for separating human beings from their body parts. There's also a redisplay of the Line of Kings – an original exhibition dating back to the 1680s – which includes wooden horses carved by the prolific sculptor Grinling Gibbons, Henry VIII's armour and a scale model of tilting knights.

For the little ones, there are swordsmanship games, coin-minting activities and even a child-sized longbow.

What's On

Pick a date

to

Please select two valid dates

The first date can't be after the second date

No events found for the selected dates

Things to do

Eis Haus

This bar at the Tower of London Ice Rink, is sure to chill you out. There's a whole lot of frozen fun with a real ice bar, ice sculptures, ice cave and ice throne in the mix. Warm coats are provided and sessions last 25 minutes. DJs can be found spinning...

Tower of London Ice Rink

Located in the dry moat, the Tower of London ice rink offers a grand historical setting for seasonal skating sessions, along with views of London's ancient fortress. This year, round off a skate with a visit to the Tower's temporary 'ice bar', literally...

Tips for the future, go on a Sunday to the church and you don't need to pay entry fee! Our tour guide told us that, so I'm just a messenger. Our tour guide told us a many things, he made us laugh, cry and cringe. Billy the Beefeater (only calling him that as that's his social media name, other Yoeman Warders don't particularly like the beefeater nickname) has got 1.5 million views on YouTube and we were lucky enough to have him as our guide. To hear a story and all the gossip that's behind it from a Yoeman's mouth is better than just reading the information cards, which are highly informative too. The free tour guides go every hour and are free, so why not? Just be aware for parents with kids, they do not leave out any gruesome details.

Despite being a born and bred Londoner I've actually been to the Tower of London before and I learned a lot on my first visit.

My visit was actually after official opening hours for The Ceremony of the Keys, a ritual that dates back 800 years. In addition to witnessing a historic event inside a palace (which I didn't realise is what the Tower of London is) you'll learn about the history of the palace and have the opportunity to ask Yeomans (Beefeaters) some questions.

The sessions are free to book but booking is now for 9 months in advance so book as soon as you can. The ceremony is completely outside so remember to dress appropriately.

Because
of its extraordinary role in history, this place is filled with stories and
astonishing facts. You’ll love learning about it all on your visit. Plus, the
exhibits are very fascinating and manage to bring life to historical facts
pretty well. Very interesting indeed.

Don’t
hesitate to talk to the Beefeaters. Friendly and welcoming, they will happily
answer any questions you might have.

And
to top it all, from the fortification walls, you can enjoy beautiful views over
Tower Bridge and the Thames.

A
few tips though. Wear comfy shoes. Because this place is bigger than you think.
If your kids will love running around, you might get tired pretty quick.

And
go straight to the Crown Jewel. This exhibit usually has long queues –
unsurprisingly. So head there as soon as you can or during lunch time, when
everyone else is eating – it’ll save you a little waiting time.

This is, if you will excuse me, a real gem in the crown of London's history. Tickets can be pricey but there is often a 2-4-1 deal with train tickets. Get on a free tour with one of the beefeaters their knowledge and passion for the place is infectious. You can't beat seeing the crown jewels in real life even if your viewing time is minimal. The armoury and torture devices are captivating. It is a prime tourist hot spot so try to visit out of season or first thing, but make sure you leave enough time as it is deceptively big.

Like many other reviewers I was surprised at just how big this place is, it's a mini medieval town, and just how much there is to see. It almost justifies the admission price! My daughter is studying the Tudors at school so really enjoyed herself, but there's more to learn about than just Tudors, there's ravens, the Fusilier museum, exotic animals, torture and of course you can stand on a conveyor belt and drift slowly past the crown jewels.

Be prepared to spend longer here than you might think! Best to avoid school holidays if possible, but even without queues you could easily spend a whole day here immersing in a London icon - you can literally feel the history!

Love this place! If you are a Tudors/English history
fan, you are going to love this place too.

Be prepared; a whole day spent here is not enough! There are so many things to do and see.

Such a
variety of different attractions - the Crown Jewels, the White Tower with the
huge armory collection, the torture building with all the torturing equipment
of that period, the mint where all English coins were minted till the 1800s
etc. I would totally recommend the Beefeaters tour that run every half an hour
and is included in your ticket price. The tour lasts 45min roughly and gives
you a good overview of what was once happening inside the walls of this
marvelous tower.

The Tower of London is rightly known as one of the must see sights of London. I have been there a few times, most recently in December to enjoy the ice skating rink outside.. It is a good idea to get to the Tower as early as possible (not sure what time it actually opens though) and head straight for the Jewel House.

It is quiet at this time of day and gives you an opportunity to get in and see the Crown Jewels without a crowd around you 'oohing' and 'aahing' After that you can set your own pace and explore the walls and the various buildings. I have never joined one of the Beefeater tours as I have a great love of history and therefore know a lot about events and people who inhabited the Tower. However the tour is the only way you can get into the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula and having never managed to do that before I tagged on to a tour just before they got to the chapel and was able to get inside. The restaurant inside the Tower is quite good but I did see all the school parties tucking into their packed lunches so that is also an option. Bottom line - it's expensive but well worth the visit.

As a history fan, I have to give this five stars because it is rammed full of information on its bloody past. First things first, the ticket price is fairly steep so make sure you have plenty of time to spend here - at least half a day. Secondly, try and go when it is likely to be quieter - avoid school holidays if poss. Third, you're around the corner from Borough Market, Tower Bridge and Southbank so go and explore afterwards. The building itself is super impressive and you can have a guided tour for free (which I did!) The Crown Jewels are so impressive and you will literally be in the place that poor Anne Boleyn was beheaded and the famous Princes in the Tower were found. There's also a cafe within the grounds if you fancy lunch. If you like this, and you have time, make sure you visit Hampton Court Palace too.

Look, you've got to do it. Yes, it's jam-packed with tourists, but it's well worth braving the throngs, the steep entrance fees, and the ridiculousness of the conveyor belt around the crown jewels, because this is a legitimately fascinating slice of British history. Allow plenty of time and, for the love of god, don't go on a weekend.

The Tower of London is a must for any history buffs, especially those
interested in medieval/early modern history.I would definitely recommend taking a Beefeater tour, which is free, as
you are able to access areas otherwise inaccessible.The Crown Jewels are also beautifully displayed,
but the queues can be long and you will only get a quick glimpse.

Most people visit as schoolkids but a return visit is worthwhile. I'd forgotten how big it is – not just the famous towers but a whole mini town is enclosed within its ancient walls. Sure, there are crowds, especially during the summer but the place is actually large enough to cope with them and there's really enough to see to spend at least half a day here. Seeing the crown jewels entails a long, slow shuffle in the dark. Walking the walls that encircle the Tower was more of a highlight, not least because fewer people seem to get up to the top and you get a glimpse of 'real' life – the day-to-day goings on of the Yeoman Warders and their families who live there. One minute your considering 900 years of history, the next your looking at a rotary washing line and wondering if it's part of some elaborate experiential display.

My family and I have never been to The Tower of London before, my youngest son (8 yrs old)
is learning about The Tudors and Henry 8th at school, so we are thinking of visiting soon to learn more and see Henry's Armour. The review was clear and helpful. Thankyou

This is easily one of the most popular attractions in London. My best photo of the Tower was taken from a boat cruise on the river Thames and there was a wedding taking place at the same time. Before visiting the Tower you need to practice being calm and patient as there are slow moving queues. If you need something to amuse yourself while waiting, you could check out the Party Ideas Incubator on YouTube from your smartphone.

It was really crowded at the end of July, but very interesting for me and my 11-year-old daughter. History alive! Also the shops were good and there were enough toilets (which is important when travelling with a child).